Motor-control system.



L. G. RILEY.

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1913.

1,238,387. Patented Aug 28, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYNN G. RILEY, OF "WILKINSIBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

Application filed November 5, 1913. Serial No. 799,271.

To ah whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- LYNN G. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Motor-Con trol Systems, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates to electrically propelled vehicles, and more particularly to an interlock arrangement between the brake and the controller of such vehicles.

In this class of apparatus it is, to some extent, the practice to provide means for opening the armature circuit of the motor when the brake is applied, so as to facilitate the stopping of the vehicle. After the vehicle has been brought to a stop, however, the operator may neglect to move the controller back to off position, and, therefore, when the brake is released, the motor circuit is again closed, and, if the controller is in running position at the time, the motor may be injured by the sudden rush of current which results.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an automatic means for positively preventing the motor circuit being reestablished when the brake is released,

so long as the controller remains in any run? ning position. In other words, with my 1mproved arrangement, it is necessary for the such switch and the brake lever,

operator to move the controller back to the OE position before the armature circuit can be completed so as to supply current to the motor. The armature circuit having been opened by the application of the brake, is held open, regardless of the position of the brake, until the controller is moved back to the off position.

To this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a switch in the armature circuit and a lost-motion connection between and a holding magnet governed by the controller for maintaining such switch open.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings .Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through my improved armature switch and holding magnet.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof withthe top of the casing removed, parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a conventional diagram, illustrating the method of connecting my improved switch with an ordinary controller.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a casing in which is a slidably mounted piston-shaped switch member 2. The switch member 2 has a projecting circular boss 3, which also serves as an armature for the holding magnet. Such magnet is mounted in the end of the casing 1 and comprises a coil 4 and a core 5 preferably screwed into the end of the casing. A helical spring 6 is interposed between the holding magnet and the switch member and surrounds boss 3, ings.

A rod 7, connected at one end to the brake lever (not shown) passes loosely through the center of the core 5 and also loosely through an opening in the boss 3. The rod 7 has a head 8 at its inner end which engages the switch member 2, and is provided with a fixed collar 9 outside of the casing, which serves to limit its inward movement.

Secured to the switch member 2 is a block of insulation 10, upon which is mounted a pair of contact plates 11 and-12, arranged in staggered relation, as shown in Fig. 2. A pair of spring fingers 13 are arranged to engage and be bridged by the contact plate 11, and a similar but smaller pair of spring fingers 20 are arranged to engage and be bridged by the contact plate 12.

are mounted upon To the terminal means of screws 19. which pass 18 set into the 20 are similarly secured to terminal blocks 21, to which are attached the ends of conductors 23, which likewise pass through insulating bush ings 22.

It-will be observed that, when the switch member 2 is in such position that the conas clearly shown in the draw- 14, to terminal tact 11 bridges the spring fingers 13, as

' spring fingers 20 is open and, when this shown in Fig.2, the circuit between the latter .circuit is closed by means of the contact plate 12, the circuit between the fingers 13 is open. In other words, when either of i the vcircuits is closed, the other is always open. Thesprin fingers 13 and plate 11 constitute a switc in the armature circuit of the motor, while the spring fingers and plate 12'constitute a switch which controls the circuit of the holding magnet 4.

In 3, I have'shown conventionally, an. ordinary-form of reversing controller. In this diagram, one side of the line is v shown as connected tothecable 19, which is connected directly with the armature 41 of the motor, the switch 11 being interposed.

The other side of the motor armature is connected by cable 40 with the contact plate 39. The conventional controller illustrated side o ljrom the plate 44 extends a wire 23 to one slde of the coil 4, the switch 12 and the other side comprises a pivoted handle or arm formed of insulated sections, and two banks of redle, plate 29, wire 30, plate 31, wire 32, field 'wlndmg 33, wire 34, plate 35, section 36 of the controller handle, plate 39, wire 40, ar-

mature 41, and conductor 19., and switch 11,

to the other side of the line. This is the ordinary arrangement.

In connection with my improved holding magnet, however, Iprovide additional contacts, such as 42 an 44, connected by wire 43,iand arranged to beengaged by a section of thecontroller arm adjacent the pivot 45, wh1ch fivot is connected with the positive the line by means of "a ,wire 46.

being interposed in this connection, of thecoil 4 is connected by means of a wire 24 with the ne ativeside of the line 19.

It'will be 0 served that the contacts 42 and 44' are so located that they will be engaged, and the coil 4' energized, whenever the controller arm is in any running osition whatever. In order to disengage t ese contacts vit is necessary to move the controller arm to the central 01?? position. However, I do not wish to limit myself to the use of a controller having the additional contact members 42 and 44, as the device is designed to be employedin connection with standard controllers now in use, and any suitable means to accomplish the same result may be substituted for the contact members.

The operation of my improved device will be apparent. When the brake is applied, the rod 7 is pulled to the left, and this draws the switch member 2 in'the same direction until the boss 3 engages the core 5 of the holding magnet. This movement of the switch member removes the plate 11 from engagement with the spring fingers 13, thus opening the armature circuit, and at the. same time moves plate 12 into engagement with the spring fingers 20, thus completing the circuitof the holding magnet.

f therefore, 'when the brake is applied, the controller is in some running position, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, current will flow from the positive side of the line 25, over conductors 26 and 46, through controller arm and plates 42 and 44, through wire 23, switch 12, holding coil 4, conductor 24, to the other side of the line, thus energizing the holding magnet, and retaining the switch member in the shifted position against the tension of the spring 6. It will be observed that this circuit will be maintained so long as the controller is in any running positlon. If now the brake be released, the rod 7 can move freely through the boss of the switch member without 1n any way disturbing the position of the switch. In other words, after the parts have once been moved by the application of the brake the switch member will be held in its shifted position by the magnet 4, re-

gardless of the position of the brake lever.

When, however, the operator moves the controller handle to thecentral or off position, the coil 4 is no longer energized, and the'magnet therefore releases the armature 3 and the spring 6 throws the switch member back to normal position. Upon moving the controller handle, current. is supplied to the motor in the usual manner.

' It will thus be seen that I have provided a control or safety switch which is primarily set by the brake lever, but which, after having been' set, is wholly governed by the position of the motor controller, independent of the brake lever, and it is thought that the many advantages of the invention will be'obvious without further discussion.

What I claim is:

1; In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a switch in the motor circuit, a brake rod formechanically operating said Switch under predetermined conditions to open the motor circuit, and means for maintainin the motorcircuit open while the contro er occupies any 1 running position, said means including a member movable with said switch.

2. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a brake rod, a switching device mechanically operated by the brake rod for I opening the motor circuit upon predeter mined actuation of the rod, and electromagnetic means governed by the controller and said switching device for maintaining said circuit open upon opposite actuation of said rod;

3. In' an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a brake rod, a switch in the motor .circuit, means directly connected to the brake rod and mechanically operated thereby for operating said switch to open the motor circuit, electro-magnetic means for maintaining said circuit open while the controller occupies any running position, and independent means for actuating said first means to automatically reestablish said circuit when the controller is moved to the off position.

4. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the

combination with amotor and a controller therefor, of an independent switch in the armature circuit of the motor, means for mechanically opening said switch, and a holding magnet for maintaining said switch open under certain conditions.

combination with a motor and 5. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the a controller therefor, of a brake rod, a switching. device directly movable with the rod'upon the actuation thereof to brake-setting position, a plurality-of contact members disposed on said device to .break the motor circuit upon .said actuation, a holding magnet coil, and a plurality of contact members disposed on said device to close the circuit of said holdin-g coil, upon said actuation, to maintain the motor circuit open while the controller occupies any running position, irrespective of the release of said brake rod.

6. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of an independent switch'in the armature circuit of the motor, means for opening said switch, a holding magnet for maintaining such switch open, and means for energizlng said magnet so long as the controller remains in any running position.-

4 7. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination witha motor and a controller therefor, of a brake rod, and a device comprising an incasing member, a switching member movable therein and directly with the rod upon the actuation thereof to brakesetting position, a plurality of contact members disposed on said switching member to break the motor circuit upon said actuation, a holding magnet coil disposed within said incasing member and adapted, when energized, to magnetically hold the switching member in said position, a plurality of con- .tact members disposed on said switching member to close the circuit of said holding coil upon said actuation, means disposed on they controller for maintaining the energization of said coil while the controller occupies any running position, irrespective of the release of said brake rod, and a springmember acting between said switching member and said coil for automatically effecting the reengagement of said first contact members when the controller is moved to off position.

8. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor, and a controller therefor, of a switch in the armature circuit of the motor, means for opening said switch,"'independent means for holding said switch open, and means for automatically closing said switch when such holding means is released.

9. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor, and a controller therefor, of a switch in the armature circuit of the motor, means for opening said switch,

a magnet coil for holding said switch open,

controller remains in any running position,

and a spring for closing said switch when the controller is moved to off position.-

11. In an electrically propelled vehicle,

the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of an independent switch in the circuit of said motor, means for mechanically opening said switch, and electrical means for maintaining said switch open under certain conditions.

12. In an'electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a switch in the circuit of said motor, a brake rod for mechanically opening said switch under predetermined conditions, and means for maintaining said circuit open whenthe controller occupies any running position. I

13. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a brake rod, an independent switch in the circuit of the motor, said switch being directly connected to, and adapted to be opened by, said brake rod, and electrical means for maintaining said switch open under certain conditions.

14. In an electrically propelled vehicle,

the combination with a motor and a controller therefor, of a brake rod and two In testimony whereof, I have hereunto switches connected thereto, said rod being subscribed my name this 31st day'of Oct.,

adapted to open one of said switches and to 1913.

1 ml close the other switch when operated, and LYNN G. RILEY. means controlled by the switch closed by the Witnesses: brake rod for maintaining the second switch Wuwr SIMMON,

open under predetermined conditions. B. B. HINES. 

